Aerial pipe arrangement and method of aerially arranging pipes

ABSTRACT

The pipe arrangement for feeding fluid to a fluid-receiver from a fluid-supplier through a pipe, includes a wire tensioned between a first support and a second support, a hollow fluid-feeding pipe extending between the first and second supports, and a device for allowing the fluid-feeding pipe to hang from the wire. The fluid-feeding pipe is comprised of a plurality of fundamental pipes capable of being connected to one another. A second fundamental pipe connected to a first fundamental pipe can extend and contract axially thereof relative to the first fundamental pipe, and can further bend obliquely relative to the first fundamental pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an aerial pipe arrangement, and a method ofaerially arranging pipes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Water pipes and gas pipes are generally buried below roads.

Those pipes have been conventionally buried at a depth of about 12meters. Recently, they are buried at a depth of about 6 meters.

However, it is often impossible to bury water and/or gas pipes incertain areas. For instance, it is impossible to bury water and/or gaspipes below a river, in an area in which a lot of pipes have beenalready buried, and hence, there is no sufficient space to newly burypipes, below a heavy traffic road, below a railroad, or in an area inwhich it is difficult to remove and recover concrete and asphalt.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-246585 has suggested asystem of aerially arranging pipes, including poles spaced away fromeach other, a wire tensioned between the poles, and support wireshanging from the wire for supporting pipes arranged below the wire.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-5010 has suggested a pairof steel pipes connectable to each other.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 61-52594 has suggested aswingable arm for connecting a connection hose to a fixed pipe.

The combination of the above-listed three Publications would provide anaerial pipe arrangement which makes it possible to arrange pipes, forinstance, above a river or above a railroad.

However, the pair of steel pipes suggested in Japanese PatentApplication Publication No. 63-5010 has problems that the steel pipescan be connected to each other, but it is impossible to avoid the steelpipes from separating from each other, and that one of the steel pipesis not bendable and extendable relative to the other.

Accordingly, the aerial pipe arrangement comprised of the combination ofthe above-listed three Publications is accompanied with a problem ofpoor resistance to vibration, for instance, caused by earthquake.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-mentioned problem in the prior art, it is an objectof the present invention to provide an aerial pipe arrangement forfeeding fluid to a fluid-receiver from a fluid-supplier through a pipe,and a method of aerially arranging pipes for feeding fluid to afluid-receiver from a fluid-supplier, both of which provide highresistance to vibration.

Hereinbelow are described an aerial pipe arrangement and a method ofaerially arranging pipes both in accordance with the present inventionthrough the use of reference numerals used in later describedembodiments. The reference numerals are indicated only for the purposeof clearly showing correspondence between claims and the embodiments. Itshould be noted that the reference numerals are not allowed to interpretclaims of the present application.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerial pipearrangement (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) for feeding fluid to afluid-receiver (103) from a fluid-supplier (102) through a pipe,including a wire (113, 303) tensioned between a first support (301) anda second support (302), a hollow fluid-feeding pipe (120, 320) extendingbetween the first and second supports (301, 302), and a hanger (130,330) for allowing the fluid-feeding pipe (120, 320) to hang from thewire (113, 303), wherein the fluid-feeding pipe (120, 320) is comprisedof a plurality of fundamental pipes (150) capable of being connected toone another, a second fundamental pipe (150B) connected to a firstfundamental pipe (150A) can extend and contract axially thereof relativeto the first fundamental pipe (150A), and can further bend obliquelyrelative to the first fundamental pipe (150A), the first fundamentalpipe (150A) is formed at one end thereof with an increased-radiusportion (151) having an increased inner radius, and a flange (152)formed continuous to the increased-radius portion (151), the secondfundamental pipe (150B) is formed with at least one projection (154)located remote from an end of the second fundamental pipe (150B), thefirst and second fundamental pipes (150A, 150B) are connected to eachother through a movable flange (160), the movable flange (160) has aninner diameter to fit around the second fundamental pipe (150B), themovable flange (160) is formed at an inner edge thereof with a cut-out(162) through which the projection (154) can pass, and when the firstand second fundamental pipes (150A, 150B) are connected to each otherthrough the movable flange (160), the movable flange (160) is connectedto the flange (152) of the first fundamental pipe (150A) such that theprojection (154) and the cut-out (162) are not in alignment with eachother.

The aerial pipe arrangement (300) may further include a first hollowsupply-pole (301) standing on the ground, wherein the first hollowsupply-pole (301) defines the first support, and is connected to thefluid-supplier (102), and the fluid supplied from the fluid-supplier(102) is fed to the fluid-receiver (103) through the first hollowsupply-pole (301) and the fluid-feeding pipe (320) in this order.

The aerial pipe arrangement (300) may further include a second hollowsupply-pole (302) standing on the ground, wherein the second hollowsupply-pole (302) defines the second support, and is connected to thefluid-receiver (103), and the fluid supplied from the fluid-supplier(102) is fed to the fluid-receiver (103) through the fluid-feeding pipe(320) and the second hollow supply-pole (302) in this order.

The aerial pipe arrangement (400) may further include at least onesupport-pole (410) standing on the ground between the first and secondhollow supply-poles (301, 302) for supporting the fluid-feeding pipe(320) therewith.

It is preferable that the support-pole has a fundamental pipe (420) towhich the fluid-feeding pipe (320) can be connected to, thefluid-feeding pipe (320) being connected to the fundamental pipe (420).

The aerial pipe arrangement (500) may further include at least onebranch pipe (510), the branch pipe (510) being connected to thefluid-feeding pipe (320) to partially separate the fluid from thefluid-feeding pipe (320) thereinto.

For instance, the branch pipe (510) is comprised of a bellows pipecomposed of plastic.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodof aerially arranging pipes for feeding fluid to a fluid-receiver (103)from a fluid-supplier (102), including tensioning a wire (113, 303)between a first support (301) and a second support (302), and hanging ahollow fluid-feeding pipe (120, 320) extending between the first andsecond supports (301, 302), from the wire (113, 303), wherein thefluid-feeding pipe (120, 320) is comprised of a plurality of fundamentalpipes (150) capable of being connected to one another, a secondfundamental pipe (150B) connected to a first fundamental pipe (150A) canextend and contract axially thereof relative to the first fundamentalpipe (150A), and can further bend obliquely relative to the firstfundamental pipe (150A), the first fundamental pipe (150A) is formed atone end thereof with an increased-radius portion (151) having anincreased inner radius, and a flange (152) formed continuous to theincreased-radius portion (151), the second fundamental pipe (150B) isformed with at least one projection (154) located remote from an end ofthe second fundamental pipe (150B), the first and second fundamentalpipes (150A, 150B) are connected to each other through a movable flange(160), the movable flange (160) has an inner diameter to fit around thesecond fundamental pipe (150B), the movable flange (160) is formed at aninner edge thereof with a cut-out (162) through which the projection(154) can pass, and when the first and second fundamental pipes (150A,150B) are connected to each other through the movable flange (160), themovable flange (160) is connected to the flange (152) of the firstfundamental pipe (150A) such that the projection (154) and the cut-out(162) are not in alignment with each other.

The method may further include standing a first hollow supply-pole (301)on the ground, the first hollow supply-pole (301) defining the firstsupport, and connecting the first hollow supply-pole (301) to thefluid-supplier (102).

The method may further include standing a second hollow supply-pole(302) on the ground, the second hollow supply-pole (302) defining thesecond support, and connecting the second hollow supply-pole (302) tothe fluid-receiver (103).

The method may further include standing at least one support-pole (410)between the first and second hollow supply-poles (301, 302) forsupporting the fluid-feeding pipe (320) therewith.

The method may further include connecting at least one branch pipe (510)to the fluid-feeding pipe (320) to partially separate the fluid from thefluid-feeding pipe (320) into the branch pipe (510).

The advantages obtained by the aforementioned present invention will bedescribed hereinbelow.

First, it is possible to make it unnecessary to conduct asphalt cuttingand construction works for arranging pipes, by constructing the aerialpipe arrangement in accordance with the present invention above asphaltroads. In other words, it is possible to minimize excavation of roads.Thus, industrial waste such as surplus soil, waste asphalt and smashedrocks can be reduced to ⅕ to 1/10 in volume relative to conventionalconstructions.

Furthermore, it is possible to avoid excavation of roads in a shoppingstreet, heavy-traffic roads or narrow roads, avoiding inconvenience ofinhabitants.

Second, it would be possible to use a fluid-feeding pipe having a largediameter, if first and second supply-poles shown in the third embodimentexplained later are surely fixed. Thus, the aerial pipe arrangement inaccordance with the present invention can be broadly used.

Third, whereas it was necessary in conventional construction fortemporarily arranging water/gas pipes to twice conduct connection ofexisting pipes to each other in the ground, the aerial pipe arrangementin accordance with the present invention makes it possible to reduce thenumber of conducting the connection to one.

Furthermore, it was absolutely necessary in the conventionalconstruction to excavate roads to look for existing pipes in order toconnect gas/water meters of each house to the existing pipes, when pipesare temporarily arranged.

In contrast, as mentioned in the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention explained later, it would be no longer necessary to conductsuch excavation of roads, if a branch pipe is connected to the aeriallyarranged fluid-feeding pipe.

Fourth, the aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with the presentinvention is safe to gas leakage.

If gas leaks from a pipe buried in the ground, the gas is accumulated inthe ground, or flows up to the atmosphere. In either case, if the leakedgas catches fire, the gas would be exploded.

In contrast, in the aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with thepresent invention, even if gas leaks from the fluid-feeding pipe, thegas would not catch fire, because there is no fire in the air.Furthermore, the leaked gas would be quite swiftly scattered in the air,the gas would not catch fire.

The aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with the present inventionmakes it possible to conduct a plurality of constructions in parallel.

Gas pipe construction and water pipe construction have beenconventionally conducted simultaneously in order to reduce constructioncosts. Hence, if gas pipe construction is conducted slower than waterpipe construction, both of the constructions have to be conducted at aspeed of the gas pipe construction. Accordingly, it is quite difficultto shorten a construction term of the gas pipe construction and thewater pipe construction.

In contrast, the aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with the presentinvention makes it possible to conduct gas/water pipe constructionsindependently of each other. For instance, first and second persons canconduct gas pipe construction and water pipe construction respectivelyindependently of each other (for instance, at left and right sided of aroad), ensuring that a construction term can be significantly shortened,and that construction costs can be reduced.

The above and other objects and advantageous features of the presentinvention will be made apparent from the following description made withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters designate the same or similar parts throughout the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fundamental pipes.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one of steps for connecting firstand second fundamental pipes to each other.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one of steps for connecting firstand second fundamental pipes to each other.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one of steps for connecting firstand second fundamental pipes to each other.

FIG. 6 illustrates first and second fundamental pipes connected to eachother.

FIG. 7 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with thethird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with thefourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement in accordance with thefifth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention will beexplained hereinbelow with reference to drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

The aerial pipe arrangement 100 is constructed in a factory 101. Anair-compressor 102 is disposed at one end in the factory 101, and amachine 103 driven by compressed air is disposed at the other end in thefactory 101. It is supposed that though it is necessary to supplycompressed air discharged from the air-compressor 102, to the machine103, other machines 104 are disposed between the air-compressor 102 andthe machine 103, and accordingly, there is no space on a floor of thefactory 101 to arrange pipes through which the air-compressor 102 andthe machine 103 can make fluid-communication to each other.

The aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with the first embodimentof the present invention is preferably applied to the factory 101.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordancewith the first embodiment is comprised of a main wire 113 tensionedbetween a first support 111 and a second support 112, a hollowfluid-feeding pipe 120 extending between the first and second supports111 and 112, and a plurality of hangers 130 for allowing thefluid-feeding pipe 120 to hang from the main wire 113.

Each of the first and second supports 111 and 112 comprises a bracketfixed on a wall of the factory 101, for instance.

The fluid-feeding pipe 120 is connected at one end thereof to theair-compressor 102 through a plastic bellows pipe 141, and at the otherend thereof to the machine 103 through a plastic bellows pipe 142.

The fluid-feeding pipe 120 is comprised of a plurality of fundamentalpipes 150 capable of being connected to one another.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of the fundamentalpipes 150.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first fundamental pipe 150 is formed atone end thereof with both an increased-radius portion 151 having anincreased inner radius, and a flange 152 formed continuous to theincreased-radius portion 151.

The flange 152 has an opening having an inner diameter to allow thefundamental pipe 150 to fit thereinto. The flange 152 is formed atregular intervals with four through-holes 153 through each of which abolt is inserted.

The fundamental pipe 150 is formed with two projections 154 located at apredetermined distance from the other end thereof. The two projections154 are located on a certain diameter of the fundamental pipe 150. Thatis, the two projections 154 are spaced away from each other by 180angles of circumference about a center of a cross-section of thefundamental pipe 150.

A first fundamental pipe 150A (the fundamental pipe 150 disposed at theright in FIG. 2) and a second fundamental pipe 150B ((the fundamentalpipe 150 disposed at the left in FIG. 2) are connected to each otherthrough a movable flange 160 and a packing 170 comprised of a rubberring.

The movable flange 160 has an inner diameter to fit around thefundamental pipe 150.

The movable flange 160 is formed with four through-holes 161. Thethrough-holes 161 are in alignment with the through-holes 153 of theflange 152 when the movable flange 160 and the flange 152 of thefundamental pipe 150 are coupled with each other.

The movable flange 160 is formed at an inner edge of the opening thereofwith two cut-outs 162 each having a size to allow each of theprojections 154 to pass therethrough.

The positional relation between the two cut-outs 162 is identical withthe positional relation between the two projections 154 formed on anouter surface of the fundamental pipe 150. Accordingly, when thefundamental pipe 150 is fit into the opening of the movable flange 160,the two projections 154 are in alignment with the two cut-outs 162, andpass through the cut-outs 162, respectively.

Furthermore, when the two projections 154 are in alignment with the twocut-outs 162, that is, when the two projections 154 and the two cut-outs162 are located on a common line, the through-holes 161 of the movableflange 160 are not in alignment with the through-holes 153 of the flange152.

In contrast, when the through-holes 161 of the movable flange 160 are inalignment with the through-holes 153 of the flange 152 of the firstfundamental pipe 150A, the two projections 154 are not in alignment withthe two cut-outs 162.

Hence, as mentioned later, after the movable flange 160 and the flange152 of the first fundamental pipe 150A are coupled with each otherthrough bolts and nuts, the projections 154 are not in alignment withthe cut-outs 162, and accordingly, the projections 154 act as a stopperto the movable flange 160 to thereby prevent the second fundamental pipe150B from separating from the movable flange 160 and accordingly thefirst fundamental pipe 150A.

The above-mentioned fluid-feeding pipe 120 was suggested by the inventorof the present invention (for instance, see Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2004-332857).

Each of the hangers 130 is comprised of a wire connected to the mainwire 113. The wire is fixed at one end thereof to the main wire 113, andforms a ring at the other end. The fluid-feeding pipe 120 is supportedin the ring for hanging from the main wire 113.

The packing 170 comprised of a rubber ring has an inner diameter to fitaround the fundamental pipe 150.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are perspective views showing steps for connecting thefirst and second fundamental pipes 150A and 150B to each other.

Hereinbelow is explained how the first and second fundamental pipes 150Aand 150B are connected to each other, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the movable flange 160 is fit aroundthe second fundamental pipe 150B, and then, the movable flange 160 ismoved such that the two projections 154 of the second fundamental pipe150B pass through the cut-outs 162 of the movable flange 160.

Then, the packing 170 is fit around the second fundamental pipe 150B.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the second fundamental pipe 150B isrotated by 90 degrees. As a result, the projections 154 are not inalignment with the cut-outs 162 axially of the second fundamental pipe150B.

Then, the second fundamental pipe 150B is fit into the opening of theflange 152 of the first fundamental pipe 150A.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5, bolts 155 are inserted into both thethrough-holes 153 of the flange 152 of the first fundamental pipe 150Aand the through-holes 161 of the movable flange 160, and are screwedwith nuts 156.

Thus, the first and second fundamental pipes 150A and 150B are connectedto each other.

FIG. 6 illustrates the first and second fundamental pipes 150A and 150Bconnected to each other.

Since the second fundamental pipe 150B is not fixed axially thereof tothe first fundamental pipe 150A, the second fundamental pipe 150B canextend or contract axially thereof relative to the first fundamentalpipe 150A. In other words, the second fundamental pipe 150B is movableaxially thereof relative to the second fundamental pipe 150B.

Specifically, if the second fundamental pipe 150B is pushed into theincreased-radius portion 151 of the first fundamental pipe 150A, thesecond fundamental pipe 150B contracts relative to the first fundamentalpipe 150A, and if the second fundamental pipe 150B is pulled out of theincreased-radius portion 151 of the first fundamental pipe 150A, thesecond fundamental pipe 150B extends relative to the first fundamentalpipe 150A.

Furthermore, since the second fundamental pipe 150B is not fixed axiallythereof to the first fundamental pipe 150A, the second fundamental pipe150B can incline relative to an axis of the first fundamental pipe 150A.

That is, the second fundamental pipe 150B has extensibility andturnability relative to the first fundamental pipe 150A.

Although dependent on an inner diameter of the fundamental pipe 150, thesecond fundamental pipe 150B can move relative to the first fundamentalpipe 150A by a distance in the range of about 60 to about 150 mm, andcan incline relative to the first fundamental pipe 150A by about 15degrees at maximum.

Hereinbelow is explained an example of a method of constructing theaerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with the first embodiment.

First, the main wire 113 is tensioned between a bracket acting as thefirst support 111 and a bracket acting as the second support 112.

Then, the hangers 130 are linked to the main wire 113.

Then, the fluid-feeding pipe 120 is constructed between the first andsecond supports 111 and 112 such that the fluid-feeding pipe 120 passesthrough the rings defined by the hangers 130.

Thereafter, the fluid-feeding pipe 120 is connected to theair-compressor 102 through the plastic bellows pipe 141, and further, tothe machine 103 through the plastic bellows pipe 142.

In accordance with the above-mentioned steps, the aerial pipearrangement 100 in accordance with the first embodiment is constructedin the factory 101.

The aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with the first embodimentmakes it possible to supply compressed air to the machine 103 as afluid-receiver from the air-compressor 102 as a fluid-supplier throughthe aerially constructed fluid-feeding pipe 120, even if there is nospace on a floor or on the ground to arrange necessary pipes.

When pipes are aerially arranged, it is quite important that the pipeshave a high resistance to vibration. If the pipes have a smallresistance to vibration, the pipes might be deviated to one another,disconnected from one another, or fallen, even if vibration caused bywind or earthquake were small.

Since the fluid-feeding pipe 120 constituting the aerial pipearrangement 100 in accordance with the first embodiment is comprised ofthe fundamental pipes 150 each having flexibility to adjacent pipes, asmentioned earlier, even if the fluid-feeding pipe 120 receivesvibration, the vibration is absorbed by the flexibility of thefundamental pipes 150, avoiding the fundamental pipe 150 from beingseparated from adjacent ones, or from falling.

Furthermore, even if the air-compressor 102 as a fluid-supplier and/orthe machine 103 as a fluid-receiver are moved to a second position froma first position, the aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with thefirst embodiment can be reconstructed by rearranging the main wire 113and the fluid-feeding pipe 120 with less labor than labor necessary forrearranging pipes arranged on the ground.

The structure of the aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with thefirst embodiment is not to be limited to the above-mentioned structure.The aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with the first embodimenthas many alternatives, modifications and equivalents as follows.

For instance, the main wire 113 is fixed to the brackets attached to awall of the factory 101. As an alternative, the main wire 113 may betensioned over steel skeleton in the factory 101.

In the first embodiment, the fluid-feeding pipe 120 is connected to theair-compressor through the plastic bellows pipe 141, and further to themachine 103 through the plastic bellows pipe 142. In place of theplastic bellows pipes 141 and 142, other connectors may be used.

Each of the hangers 130 in the first embodiment is comprised of aring-shaped wire. The hangers 130 are not to be limited to a ring-shapedwire. Other devices or tools may be used in place of the hangers 130.

The aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with the first embodimentis designed to include the two projections 154 and the corresponding twocut-outs 162. The aerial pipe arrangement 100 in accordance with thefirst embodiment may be designed to include only one, or three or moreprojection(s) or corresponding cut-out(s).

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement 200 in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

The aerial pipe arrangement 200 in accordance with the second embodimentof the present invention is constructed between a first factory 201 anda second factory 202.

The aerial pipe arrangement 200 in accordance with the second embodimentis structurally identical with the aerial pipe arrangement 100 inaccordance with the first embodiment. Accordingly, parts or elementsthat correspond to those of the first embodiment have been provided withthe same reference numerals, and operate in the same manner ascorresponding parts or elements in the first embodiment, unlessexplicitly explained hereinbelow.

It is assumed that an area 203 located between the first factory 201 andthe second factory 202 is an area in which pipes cannot be arranged onthe ground, such as a river, a railroad or a highway.

Even if the area 203 in which pipes cannot be arranged on the groundexists between the first factory 201 and the second factory 202, theaerial pipe arrangement 200 in accordance with the second embodimentmakes it possible to supply compressed air to the machine 103 as afluid-receiver, disposed in the second factory 202 from theair-compressor 102 as a fluid-supplier, disposed in the first factory201 through the aerially constructed fluid-feeding pipe 120.

If a highway or a railroad is constructed in the area 203, it isexpected that the fluid-feeding pipe 120 is always exposed to vibration.As mentioned above, the fluid-feeding pipe 120 in the second embodimentis comprised of the fundamental pipes 150 each having flexibility toadjacent ones, even if the fluid-feeding pipe 120 receives vibration,the vibration is absorbed by the flexibility of the fundamental pipes150. Thus, it is possible to prevent the fundamental pipes 150 frombeing separated from adjacent ones, or from falling.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 8 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordance with thethird embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the aerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordancewith the third embodiment of the present invention is comprised of afirst hollow supply-pole 301 standing on the ground 350, a second hollowsupply-pole 302 standing on the ground 350, a main wire 303 tensionedbetween a summit of the first supply-pole 301 and a summit of the secondsupply-pole 302, a fluid-feeding pipe 320 extending between the firstand second supply-poles 301 and 302, and a hanger 330 for hanging thefluid-feeding pipe 320 from the main wire 303.

In the aerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordance with the thirdembodiment, the main wire 303 is tensioned between a summit of the firstsupply-pole 301 and a summit of the second supply-pole 302. That is, asummit of the first supply-pole 301 corresponds to the first support 111in the first embodiment, and a summit of the second supply-pole 302corresponds to the second support 112 in the first embodiment.

The main wire 303, the fluid-feeding pipe 320 and the hanger 330 in thesecond embodiment have the same structure as the structure of the mainwire 113, the fluid-feeding pipe 120 and the hanger 130 in the firstembodiment, respectively.

The first supply-pole 301 is formed immediately below a summit thereofwith a flange 304. The first supply-pole 301 is connected to thefluid-feeding pipe 320 through the flange 304.

The first supply-pole 301 is formed in the vicinity of a lower endthereof with an inlet opening 305.

A gas pipe 304 through which gas is fed is buried in the ground. Thefirst supply-pole 301 is connected at the inlet opening 305 to the gaspipe 304 through a fluid-volume control valve 341 which controls avolume of gas fed from the gas pipe 304 to the first supply-pole 301.

Gas flowing in the gas pipe 304 is fed into the fluid-feeding pipe 320through the fluid-volume control valve 341, the inlet opening 305, thefirst supply-pole 301 and the flange 304.

The second supply-pole 302 is formed immediately below a summit thereofwith a flange 306. The second supply-pole 302 is connected to thefluid-feeding pipe 320 through the flange 306.

The second supply-pole 302 is formed in the vicinity of a lower endthereof with an outlet opening 307. Gas fed from the gas pipe 340through the first supply-pole 301, the fluid-feeding pipe 320 and thesecond supply-pole 302 is supplied to a fluid-receiver (not illustrated)through the outlet opening 307.

In the aerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordance with the thirdembodiment, gas flowing in the gas pipe 340 is fed into the firstsupply-pole 301 through the fluid-volume control valve 341, passesthrough the fluid-feeding pipe 320, and then, reaches the secondsupply-pole 302. Thereafter, the gas is supplied to a fluid-receiverthrough the outlet opening 307 of the second supply-pole 302.

Similarly to the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, theaerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordance with the third embodimentmakes it possible to feed gas to a fluid-receiver from the gas pipe 340as a fluid-supplier through the aerially constructed fluid-feeding pipe320 even in an area in which there is no space for arranging pipes onthe ground.

Since the fluid-feeding pipe 320 constituting the aerial pipearrangement 300 in accordance with the third embodiment is comprised ofthe fundamental pipes 150 each having flexibility to adjacent pipes,even if the fluid-feeding pipe 320 receives vibration caused by windsand so on, the vibration is absorbed by the flexibility of thefundamental pipes 150, avoiding the fundamental pipe 150 from beingseparated from adjacent ones, or from falling.

There is possibility of gas leakage from the fluid-feeding pipe 320. Ifgas leaks from a pipe buried in the ground, the gas is accumulated inthe ground, or flows up to the atmosphere. In either case, if the leakedgas catches fire, the gas would be exploded.

In contrast, in the aerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordance with thethird embodiment, even if gas leaks from the fluid-feeding pipe 320, thegas would not catch fire, because there is no fire in the air.Furthermore, the leaked gas would be quite swiftly scattered in the air,the gas would not catch fire.

The aerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordance with the third embodimentis designed to include both the first and second supply-poles 301 and302. It should be noted that the aerial pipe arrangement 300 may bedesigned to include one of the first and second supply-poles 301 and302.

The first supply-pole 301 is connected to the gas pipe 304 in the thirdembodiment. As an alternative, the first supply-pole 301 may beconnected to a pipe in which fluid flows, such as a water pipe.

If necessary, the first and/or second supply-poles 301 and 302 may besupported by wires tensioned between them and the ground, or wiresthrough which they are hung.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 9 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement 400 in accordance with thefourth embodiment of the present invention.

The aerial pipe arrangement 400 in accordance with the fourth embodimentis designed to further include a support-pole 410 in comparison with theaerial pipe arrangement 300 in accordance with the third embodimentillustrated in FIG. 8.

The aerial pipe arrangement 400 in accordance with the fourth embodimenthas the same structure as that of the aerial pipe arrangement 300 inaccordance with the third embodiment except including the support-pole410.

The support-pole 410 stands on the ground 350 between the first andsecond supply-poles 301 and 302. It is not always necessary for thesupport-pole 410 to be hollow unlike the first and second supply-poles301 and 302. The support-pole 410 may be comprised of a solid pole.

The main wire 303 is tensioned over summits of the first and secondsupply-poles 301 and 302 and a summit of the support-pole 410.

Furthermore, the support-pole 410 has a connection pipe 420 horizontallyattached thereto in the vicinity of a summit thereof. The connectionpipe 420 is identical in structure to the fundamental pipe 150.

The support-pole 410 is hollow only in an area through which theconnection pipe 420 passes. In other words, a fluid path is defined inthe support-pole 410 by the connection pipe 420.

Hence, the fluid-feeding pipe 320 is supported by the support-pole 410naturally by using the connection pipe 420 as one of a plurality of thefundamental pipes 150 constituting the fluid-feeding pipe 320.

If the first and second supply-poles 301 and 302 are spaced away fromeach other by a long distance, it is possible to stably support thefluid-feeding pipe 320 by standing the support-pole 410 between thefirst and second supply-poles 301 and 302.

The aerial pipe arrangement 400 in accordance with the fourth embodimentis designed to include one support-pole 410. It should be noted that theaerial pipe arrangement 400 in accordance with the fourth embodiment maybe designed to include two or more support-poles 410 in dependence on adistance between the first and second support-poles 301 and 302.

Furthermore, it is not always necessary to attach the connection pipe420 to the support-pole 410. The support-pole 410 may be used merely forsupporting the main wire 303 and the fluid-feeding pipe 320.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 10 illustrates an aerial pipe arrangement 500 in accordance withthe fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The aerial pipe arrangement 500 in accordance with the fifth embodimentof the present invention is designed to additionally include branchpipes 510 and branch wires 520 in comparison with the aerial pipearrangement 400 in accordance with the fourth embodiment illustrated inFIG. 9.

Each of the branch wires 520 is connected at one end thereof to the mainwire 303, and at the other end thereof to each of houses 530.

Each of the branch pipes 510 is connected at one thereof to thefluid-feeding pipe 320, and at the other end thereof to a fluid-volumemeter 540 equipped in each of the houses 530. Each of the branch pipes510 is comprised of a bellows hose composed of plastic.

Each of the branch pipes 510 is hung from the corresponding wire 520through the hanger 330.

The aerial pipe arrangement 500 in accordance with the fifth embodimentmakes it possible to temporarily and readily construct a gas pipe toeach of the houses 530 while the gas pipe 340 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) isunder construction. As a result, it is no longer necessary totemporarily bury a pipe between the gas pipe 340 and each of the houses530, it would be possible to reduce wasteful excavation.

Specifically, it was necessary in the conventional construction toexcavate roads for looking for the gas pipe 340 in order to connect thegas pipe 340 to a gas meter of each of the houses 530 through a temporalpipe.

In contrast, in the aerial pipe arrangement 500 in accordance with thefifth embodiment, each of the branch pipes 510 is connected to theaerially constructed to the fluid-feeding pipe 320 to thereby make it nolonger necessary to excavate roads.

Each of the branch pipes 510 in the fifth embodiment is comprised of aplastic bellows hose. As an alternative, each of the branch pipes 510may be comprised of other kind of hose or pipe.

While the present invention has been described in connection withcertain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subjectmatter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limitedto those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for thesubject matter of the invention to include all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit andscope of the following claims.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-9836 filedon Jan. 18, 2006 including specification, claims, drawings and summaryis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

1. An aerial pipe arrangement for feeding fluid to a fluid-receiver froma fluid-supplier through a pipe, comprising: a wire tensioned between afirst support and a second support; a hollow fluid-feeding pipeextending between said first and second supports; and a hanger forallowing said fluid-feeding pipe to hang from said wire, wherein saidfluid-feeding pipe is comprised of a plurality of fundamental pipescapable of being connected to one another, a second fundamental pipeconnected to a first fundamental pipe can extend and contract axiallythereof relative to said first fundamental pipe, and can further bendobliquely relative to said first fundamental pipe, said firstfundamental pipe is formed at one end thereof with an increased-radiusportion having an increased inner radius, and a flange formed continuousto said increased-radius portion, said second fundamental pipe is formedwith at least one projection located remote from an end of said secondfundamental pipe, said first and second fundamental pipes are connectedto each other through a movable flange, said movable flange has an innerdiameter to fit around said second fundamental pipe, said movable flangeis formed at an inner edge thereof with a cut-out through which saidprojection can pass, and when said first and second fundamental pipesare connected to each other through said movable flange, said movableflange is connected to said flange of said first fundamental pipe suchthat said projection and said cut-out are not in alignment with eachother.
 2. The aerial pipe arrangement as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising a first hollow supply-pole standing on the ground, whereinsaid first hollow supply-pole defines said first support, and isconnected to said fluid-supplier, and said fluid supplied from saidfluid-supplier is fed to said fluid-receiver through said first hollowsupply-pole and said fluid-feeding pipe in this order.
 3. The aerialpipe arrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a secondhollow supply-pole standing on the ground, wherein said second hollowsupply-pole defines said second support, and is connected to saidfluid-receiver, and said fluid supplied from said fluid-supplier is fedto said fluid-receiver through said fluid-feeding pipe and said secondhollow supply-pole in this order.
 4. The aerial pipe arrangement as setforth in claim 2, further comprising a second hollow supply-polestanding on the ground, wherein said second hollow supply-pole definessaid second support, and is connected to said fluid-receiver, and saidfluid supplied from said fluid-supplier is fed to said fluid-receiverthrough said fluid-feeding pipe and said second hollow supply-pole inthis order.
 5. The aerial pipe arrangement as set forth in claim 4,further comprising at least one support-pole standing on the groundbetween said first and second hollow supply-poles for supporting saidfluid-feeding pipe therewith.
 6. The aerial pipe arrangement as setforth in claim 5, wherein said support-pole has a fundamental pipe towhich said fluid-feeding pipe can be connected to, said fluid-feedingpipe being connected to said fundamental pipe.
 7. The aerial pipearrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least onebranch pipe, said branch pipe being connected to said fluid-feeding pipeto partially separate said fluid from said fluid-feeding pipe thereinto.8. The aerial pipe arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein saidbranch pipe is comprised of a bellows pipe composed of plastic.
 9. Amethod of aerially arranging pipes for feeding fluid to a fluid-receiverfrom a fluid-supplier, comprising: tensioning a wire between a firstsupport and a second support; and hanging a hollow fluid-feeding pipeextending between said first and second supports, from said wire,wherein said fluid-feeding pipe is comprised of a plurality offundamental pipes capable of being connected to one another, a secondfundamental pipe connected to a first fundamental pipe can extend andcontract axially thereof relative to said first fundamental pipe, andcan further bend obliquely relative to said first fundamental pipe, saidfirst fundamental pipe is formed at one end thereof with anincreased-radius portion having an increased inner radius, and a flangeformed continuous to said increased-radius portion, said secondfundamental pipe is formed with at least one projection located remotefrom an end of said second fundamental pipe, said first and secondfundamental pipes are connected to each other through a movable flange,said movable flange has an inner diameter to fit around said secondfundamental pipe, said movable flange is formed at an inner edge thereofwith a cut-out through which said projection can pass, and when saidfirst and second fundamental pipes are connected to each other throughsaid movable flange, said movable flange is connected to said flange ofsaid first fundamental pipe such that said projection and said cut-outare not in alignment with each other.
 10. The method as set forth inclaim 9, further comprising: standing a first hollow supply-pole on theground, said first hollow supply-pole defining said first support; andconnecting said first hollow supply-pole to said fluid-supplier.
 11. Themethod as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: standing a secondhollow supply-pole on the ground, said second hollow supply-poledefining said second support; and connecting said second hollowsupply-pole to said fluid-receiver.
 12. The method as set forth in claim10, further comprising: standing a second hollow supply-pole on theground, said second hollow supply-pole defining said second support; andconnecting said second hollow supply-pole to said fluid-receiver. 13.The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising standing atleast one support-pole between said first and second hollow supply-polesfor supporting said fluid-feeding pipe therewith.
 14. The method as setforth in claim 9, further comprising connecting at least one branch pipeto said fluid-feeding pipe to partially separate said fluid from saidfluid-feeding pipe into said branch pipe.